0374 Seasonal Greetings To... Poem by Michael Shepherd

In the spirit of the season
I'm working on a big-hearted,
multi-faith, inter-faith, lack-of-faith
religiously correct yet thinking outside the box (6 x 2)
all-inclusive but not syrupy or anodyne
seasonal greetings card
(or will the mention of season
offend non-seasonalists?)

here's the draft but no doubt
it'll draw comment.. feel free..

Seasonal greetings to All whom
I usually ignore:

Greetings to all our enemies -
please don't abandon your principles, I'm not asking that, but
can we draw a little nearer this year?

Greetings to all pagans -
we all would like to pop round for a merry drink or two and a hug
but can we do it indoors? Merry
mistletoe, etc. - wrap up well!

Greetings to all atheists -
enjoy your year all the more since
there's no One to thank except possibly
Intelligent Design?

Greetings to all agnostics -
should I hope that this year is
the year you make that big decision and
leap that big leap off
the fence of fierce, barbed intelligence - or
will life be the duller for it, for you?

Greetings to all humanists -
hope you feel really human all year and
don't lose faith in humanity, and please
spread it around especially
among those who have an over-developed
sense of sin...you could put the fun back in
fun-damentalist..

Greetings to all bah-humbugs -
who have better reason each year
to condemn the commercialisation
of the season - take the phone off,
disconnent the intercom at the door,
and have a really good time to yourself which
many of us pretend to envy you...

and

Greetings to all those who, while
not really believing in anything too much
or too little either,
go through the motions, wreck their bank balance
for the sake of others - may you
emerge from the season - nay -
live the whole year -
with an unexpected greater warmth of heart - for
you are the salt of the frozen earth

and I suppose finally

Greetings to those without a heart -
may you enjoy all
that you wish yourself
and who knows



(for PJ whose idea I stole - seasonal greetings and please forgive..)